Turkey's economic and agricultural future: An assessment of incentive and agricultural policies

Turkey must review its incentive and agricultural policies to strengthen the foundations of its economy. Today, the confusion in incentive practices and the decline in the agricultural sector are weakening our country's development potential. So, what should be done to solve these problems?

REFORM IN THE INCENTIVE SYSTEM IS ESSENTIAL

Our current incentive system has a fragmented structure managed by numerous institutions. This situation reduces the effectiveness of incentives and prevents them from turning into economic output. Our recommendations are as follows:

•Incentives should be coordinated by a single institution as much as possible.

•Application processes should be transparent and made accessible to all investors.

•An independent audit mechanism should be established to prevent the misuse of incentives.

Furthermore, incentives need to be regulated in a way that directly contributes to production, exports, and employment. Supporting SMEs in particular and strengthening local economies will make significant contributions to our country's development in the long term.

INDEPENDENCE IN AGRICULTURE MUST BE REGAINED

Once a self-sufficient country in agriculture, Turkey has now become dependent on imports. Our agricultural land, which was 41 million hectares in 2002, has fallen to 37 million hectares in 2020. Moreover, we had an agricultural deficit of 4 billion dollars in 2020.

To reverse this picture, the following must be done:

•The protection and efficient use of agricultural land must be ensured.

•Taxes on farmers should be abolished, and production costs should be reduced.

•To ensure sustainability in agricultural production, incentives should focus on innovative and value-added production.

The example of the Netherlands shows how the agricultural sector can be turned into a success story with the right policies. Turkey can utilize its potential and become a leading country in agriculture once again.

Conclusion

Reforms in the incentive system and radical changes in agricultural policies are the key to Turkey regaining its economic independence. This transformation will not only increase economic growth but also social welfare.

As the founder of our Republic, Atatürk, said: “The basis of the national economy is agriculture.” This foundation must be rebuilt with the right policies.